Sharp Shocks for Tories as Voters Have Their Say
Any remaining hope that the polls were wrong has been shattered for Tory MPs, as voters in Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth delivered two resounding messages.
Labour on Track for a 1997-Style Landslide
Political pundits are now predicting a landslide victory for Labour, drawing parallels to the 1997 election. The numbers don't lie, with thousands of Tory voters opting to stay at home, leading to Labour's narrow win in Tamworth by just 811 votes compared to 2019. Similarly, Labour gained Mid Beds with 156 fewer votes, albeit on a lower turnout.
Worse Than Expected for the Tories
According to pollsters Survation, the situation is even worse for the Tories. Many 2019 Conservative voters promised to turn out, but half of them ended up voting for a different party. Surprisingly, as many 2019 Tory voters defected to the right-wing Reform party as they did to Labour, creating a right/left pincer effect.
Faragist Party Gains Overshadow Labour's Majorities
In a surprising twist, the 'Faragist' pro-Brexit, low-tax party garnered more votes than Labour's majorities in both seats. The Brexit Party, which stepped aside in 2019, is now relishing in their role in costing the Tories these two seats.
Growing Frustration and Calls for Change
Fury is mounting within the Tory party, with one senior member expressing their discontent: "Rishi and his gang got rid of Boris and then got rid of Liz, but what was it for? Banning smoking and burdening everyone with taxes isn't cutting it."
While a new leader is not yet being seriously considered, there are growing whispers about the future of the gloomy Chancellor. Jeremy Hunt, in his role as Chancellor, must provide some hope in next month's Autumn Statement or face increasingly loud calls for his resignation.
